Whether it’s held inside or outside, before the Universitywide commencement or after, graduates of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) have learned one thing about the Party in the Park during its five-year history.
It’s fun!
“I made it,” a beaming Michelle Peralta exclaimed, arms raised, after arriving at Plaza Park on May 16. Health and wellness educator in Campus Life Services at UMB, she had just earned her master’s in public health from the School of Medicine. She was one of dozens of robed graduates who filled the park between the Carey School of Law and the School of Social Work for the midday celebration.
(View a photo gallery on Facebook and see a video below.)
The 2019 graduates of the University of Maryland, Baltimore celebrate their academic accomplishments with food, fun, and dancing at Party in the Park.
“It’s been very rewarding to work here for the past five years but also go to school and work full time,” Peralta said. “I’ve had amazing mentors here. Also the UMBrella women’s group, URecFit, the Wellness Hub, and Campus Life Services.”
The weather cooperated, unlike the year before, when the party moved into the SMC Campus Center. “It’s a good atmosphere, especially when we can hold this outside,” said DJ Marvalous, who provided the music for the fourth year in a row. “Keeping smiles on people’s faces. That’s what this is all about.”
When he played the “Cha-Cha Slide” even the food servers from CulinArt got into the act, swaying back and forth. It made the wait for foods such as chicken and veggie sliders and all-beef hotdogs more bearable. Nearby, the platform party from the morning commencement enjoyed the celebration in the VIP tent.
“This is a convenient stop between commencement and convocation. I’m going to sprint there soon,” said Susan Gorschboth, munching on chips just after earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice. A nurse for 25 years who earned her RN at the School of Nursing in 1997, she said the DNP would complete her coursework.
Along with music and food, family was a big part of Party in the Park. “The best part is just food and family,” said Samuel Dastrup, a School of Dentistry grad, whose 20-month-old daughter Adrie loved playing with his mortarboard cap under one of the tents with tables. “I’m joined by my wife Shayla and 10 others, mom and dad, brothers. It’s a great party.”
In addition to games like cornhole and Connect Four, a photo booth, and a charging station, for the first time there was a social media lounge run by Communications and Public Affairs. Tributes poured in and appeared on the screens in the lounge, like the Maryland Poison Center at the School of Pharmacy posting “ConGRADulations from the MD Poison Center. We are so proud to employ 12 UM Baltimore alums – including 2 from MD Nursing and 10 from UMSOP.”
The Oriole Bird and Poe from the Ravens made the rounds, greeting graduates and their guests. The UMB Police showed off their new uniforms. “We keep hearing you guys look great!” said Cpl. Thomas Darnell Jr., who was patrolling with Eduardo Edouazin.
“There is free food,” said Andrew Yousef, standing with his fellow School of Dentistry grad Leili Zamini. “Taking pictures with all the greenery,” added Zamini when asked what she liked best about the party. “And the music’s really good. This is better than I thought it would be.”
“You get to be here with your friends and family and celebrate our hard work and achievements,” said Xiomara Larios, who had just graduated from the School of Social Work.
Showing off the area was part of the appeal for some.
“They’ve never been in the Baltimore area before,” said School of Nursing grad Kianoush Mohajeri, who was joined by her mother, sister, and niece.
For the first time Party in the Park followed, rather than preceded, the Universitywide commencement, which was moved from Friday afternoon to Thursday morning to increase attendance. Like the morning ceremony, the party swelled from bigger crowds with the food line stretching part way through the park.
“I’ve seen this on my way to school all these years,” said Jan Sieluk, who had just earned his PhD from the Graduate School. “It’s so much better being here as a graduate,” added a smiling Sieluk, who works for Merck in Pennsylvania.
A native of Poland, Sieluk said his 5 ½ years at UMB provided more than he expected. “Of course, they taught the science stuff you need to know, but it also prepares us to join the market and be ready to face the challenges in the emerging health care system and pharmacometrics,” said Sieluk, who was joined by family friend and mentor Eric Beve. “It also taught me to be very respectful and humble. It was a great lesson of humility in my life, one I actually needed. So now I feel like a different person, ready to move on.”
His wasn’t the only long-distance story. Ali Tajzad looked a little jetlagged after a 15-hour-plus flight from Dubai the night before to see his sister, Tania Tajzad, graduate from the School of Pharmacy (SOP).
“I was crying all day. Usually I don’t get teary, but I haven’t slept for 48 hours,” said Ali. “I just love her.” Responded his sister, “You’re so sweet.”
Tania Tajzad has made the most of her time at SOP, not only earning her PharmD but also serving as philanthropy chair for Phi Delta Chi (“we raised over $2,000 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital”) and secretary in ACCP, the clinical pharmacy organization.
“UMB outgrew my expectations,” she said. “When you first start out you think you know what you want until you see all of the opportunities that are there. It’s not until that point that you realize you’ve been gifted with these opportunities.”
After she passes her pharmacy boards, she hopes to work in hospital and industry practice.
“We lost our mother to cancer,” Ali Tajzad said. “[My sister] wants to commit herself to people fighting cancer.”
Patricia Fanning contributed to this article.